Pepper or salt shaker



' Jan. 29, 1929.

E. DANIEK PEPPER OR SALT SHAKER Filed March 28, 1927 r s s EUGENE DANIEK, OF PORTLAND, OEEGOHI;

PEPPER OR SALT filiAKER.

Application filed March 28, 1927. Serial No. 178,836.

My invention relates to pepper or salt shakers iii whichthe top is depressed and covered by a reciprocatorily mounted head piece. 7

The objects of my invention are to provide a condiment container or receptacle which is sanitary in so far the contents are at all times protected from dirt, dust and moisture; in which the perforated surface of the top itself is normally secure from contaminating touches; which opens automatically when in use and conversely closes automatically when not in use; and which produces a strikingly ornamental effect.

Other objects and advantages are to be found in the construction and arrangement oi parts as will be described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

l. attain these objects with the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, 1n which- Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the shaker on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a cornered head piece.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a round head piece.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The top 1 of the receptacle 2 is made of metal and may be affixed to said receptacle by soldering, screwing, or in any other suitable manner. The top 1 is depressed, that 1s the walls slope toward the center and terminate in a flat bottom 3. Integrally affixed to this fiat bottom 3 and extending down into the receptacle 2 is a square or round tube 4 closed at the lower terminal, which serves as a guide for the reciprocating plunger 5.

The stem 6 of the plunger 5 extends upward beyond the flat bottom 3 and is surrounded by a washer 7 which is soldered to the fiat bottom 3. Firmly attached to the upper terminal of the stem 6, either with cement or otherwise, is a head piece 8 whose lower portion fits snugly against the sloping Walls of the top 1. The head piece 8 may consist of plain, cut, or colored glass, stone or metal, and may be round or cornered. If the head piece 8 is cornered, then the guide 4 should be square, but if the head piece 8 is round, the

guide 4 may also be round. The upper portion of the head piece may either be peaked or rounded as indicated by the Figs. 2 and 3; it may have the ground facets of a gem; it may be smooth or engraved. At any rate the possibilities for artistic treatment of the head piece are unlimited. Even if merely plain or colored glass is employed, the ornamental effect is striking. When the shaker is turned upside down, the head piece 8 drops automatically to the position indicated by the dotted lines 9 in Fig. 1, and the contents are discharged through the perforations 10. When the shaker is placed back on the table the head piece drops automatically into its seat and protects the contents of the receptacle as v ell as the perforated surface.

here the top 1 forms an integral part of the receptacle 2, it is necessary that the bottom 11 be provided with a fill opening and a suitable plug 12; where the top is removably mounted a fill opening in the bottom 11 is of course unnecessary.

Having thus described my invention, it

will be seen that my objects have been accom-- plished and, though I have shown the preferred form of construction, I reserve to myself the right to make minor changes, providing I do not contravene the spirit and principle of my invention.

I claim: I

1. In a device of the character described, a receptacle, a depressed top integrally secured to the receptacle, the walls of the top sloping downwardly toward the center and terminating in a flat bottom, perforations in the top, the axes of the perforations in opposite walls being directedto converge outside the receptacle, a hollow guide integrally attached to the flat bottom and projecting downwardly into the receptacle. said guide being closed at the sides and the lower end. a reciprocating plunger mounted in the hollow guide, a stem on the plunger, said stem projecting above the fiat bottom of the top, a guiding washer firmly a'fiiXed to the fiat bottom around the stem, an ornamental weight firin- 1y attached to the. upper terminal. of the stem and resting on the depressed top, a fill opening in the bottom of the receptacle, and a removable plug in the fill opening.

2. In a device of the character described, a v

walls of the depressed top, the axes of the per-' 7 foratiens in said walls being directed to eona weight at the projecting end of the plunger, Verge outside the receptacle, a hollow guide a washer firmly afiixed to the top around the extending from the top into the receptacle, a stem and below the weight, said shoulder on 10 short plunger reciprocating in the hollow the plunger in reverse position resting fully guide, a stem of lesser diameter than the on the Washer.

plunger extending from the plunger through In testimony whereof I atfix my signature. the top and leaving a shoulder on the plun "er, EUGENE DANIEK. 

